Killing Horses for a Bet

Update: 20th June 09. The stupidity continues..

ABC News. More calls to ban jumps racing

Whatsourgo died after a fall during race two at Moonee Valley, becoming the sixth horse to die in jumps racing this season.

Click for a larger image.

Getty Images: Robert Cianflone

I've spent time around horses, in the wild, on the track and in the ring.
I have never seen a horse voluntarily jump anything it didn't have to.

The Hurdle Racing Industry has seen dozens of horses killed for a flutter yet refused to stop the sport, until now.

Their showcase event, the Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase has seen three horses killed or shot due to falls.

They have at last cancelled all jump races and will hold the enquiry they have dragged their feet on.

Photo: Liss Ralston

Victorian jumps races suspended after more deaths

Pride of Westbury died after this fall at Warrnambool yesterday, one of three horses to die in the past two days in Victorian jump races.

ABC News coverage of the same sad event.

Update:
Then you have stupid horse trainers talking like this. Arse out of their pants trainers who want to shoot their horses and post their heads to authorities because they cant continue killing horses for a bet.

Update: Jumps racing wins fight for survival

ABC News - Jumps Racing Reprieve

Racing Victoria has decided to continue with jumps racing but with a number of new conditions. The measures include stricter qualifying requirements for horses and the removal of the last jump in each race.

Which just goes to show that Tax revenue has a higher priority than animal welfare. Horses fall at jumps due to bad judgement, speed, crowding and exhaustion. Removing the last hurdle will do little to change this.

07 May 09 in : point of view

6 comments »

6 comments

Comment by Regina Filagne on 09 October 09 @ 13:39

You have never seen a horse jump anything it didn't have to?? Have you really spent a lot of time around horses like you say you have? I am starting to doubt you. If I leave a jump set up in my horse's pasture they will jump it just for fun. It is true that steeplechases are incredibly dangerous but that doesn't mean they should be banned. I feel like in today's society they are making rules against EVERYTHING. They are trying to make us all safe but in turn they are putting tons of restrictions on us and making it harder to enjoy life. Really, what is wrong with a little danger in life? And speaking again of horses not jumping something they didn't have to... don't you think that if the horse really didn't want to jump the jump then they would just go around it? I mean, seriously, the horse weighs at least 1000 pounds and the jockey weighs what.. 115? Who do you think is going to win in that fight? And I GUARANTEE that horse trainers don't want to shoot their horses as you say they do. They love their horses and do not like to see bad things happen to them. Why would they spend so much time and money on the horse training them and taking care of them if they just wanted to kill them? That doesn't make any sense. What does make sense is that sometimes accidents happen. That is part of life. Anyway.. I hope you enjoy reading my message. :)

Comment by John on 09 October 09 @ 14:15

Well Regina, I have been around horses for a long time. Everything from 3 Day Eventing, Dressage and ShowJumping to Cattle Musters in the Snowy Mountains.

The only time I've seen horses jump anything without a rider was brumbies in the Snowy Mountains jumping logs while hurtling down a hillside.

If you want to post a video of your horses popping over your jumps "for the sheer love of it" then your welcome.

In the meantime, if you realy like a bit of danger in your life , why don't you get the job of destroying the horses, who unlike the jockey, have to be shot just because they break a leg.

Comment by mykala wells on 23 May 10 @ 11:59

ya for your information john a little bit of danger isnt destroying horses. And theres 2 very popular reasons why they have to shoot the horses thats because #1 the trainer doesnt have enough money to help it and the horse would just be miserable the rest of its life and #2 they cant do anything for the horse. And alot of times when horses get hurt like that they dont even have the will to live so then nobody could help them.and i bet you havent even ever been on a horses back for competition or anyting besides maybe when you were a kid at the carnival the little ponies maybe you rode one of them. But i ride horses every day and i know alot more about them then you do John./ thats all i have to say. Hope you enjoyed my letter.

Comment by John on 23 May 10 @ 16:39

Great, still haven't heard one word that justifies belting horses around race tracks and expecting them to jump clean in a crowd.

I know full well why horses get shot. I'm just saying hurdle racing shouldn't be one of them

Comment by MyKaLa WeLlS on 24 May 10 @ 08:01

maybe you should get some of your city slicker friends to comment then.the ones that dont know much about horses and that feel bad. But i still think that they need to losen up on restrictions and banding events and sports. I mean realy this stuff has been here for a long time so just stop trying to ban stuff. Im not trying to be mean or anythhing Talk to you later JoHn.

Comment by georgia on 14 June 10 @ 05:27

I jump my horse at shows but i dont have him at a full speed gallop and i only jump him in the height that i feel is right for my horse. i jump between 12" and 2 ft nothing higher! i thin hurdle racing is a tad cruel but i must say a horse can jump to magnificent heights!! there should be different races with different height variations instead of all the same. th injurys are all in the wrong place at the wrong time and they can be stopped if you lower the jumps to a height right for the horse. :)

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Killing Horses for a Bet

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